Anspaugh pleads no contest to misdemeanor

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By Matt Durr

Hillsdale.net - Hillsdale, MI

By Matt Durr

Posted Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:40 AM

By Matt Durr

Posted Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:40 AM

Hillsdale, Mich.

matt.durr@hillsdale.netHILLSDALE — Former Hillsdale Board of Public Utilities water/wastewater Superintendent Benjamin Anspaugh entered a no contest plea in Hillsdale County District Court Wednesday to a misdemeanor moving violation causing death.

The plea was part of a plead bargain. By taking it, Anspaugh avoided the more serious felony charge that could have sent him to prison for up to 15 years.

The conditions of the plea bargain say Anspaugh must perform 40 hours of community service, pay restitution, avoid alcohol and controlled substances and is not allowed to drive for the entirety of his probation.

Judge Donald Sanderson delayed sentencing until April 8 at 1:30 p.m. so the victim’s wife could make statements to the court regarding the death of her husband Jeffery Creel. Anspaugh allegedly struck Creel, a worker for Consumers Energy, with his vehicle on Homer Road near Blackmer Drive in Fayette Township.

Creel was called to the area after reports of a downed power line. He was preparing to assess damages caused by a fallen tree limb during a recent storm, according to Consumers Energy. Anspaugh was driving southbound and swerved to go around the truck when he hit Creel, who was at the back on the driver's side of the truck.

Creel was flown to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, where he later died following surgery.

The case has bounced back and forth between district and circuit court as lawyers tried to hammer out a deal.

While he avoids the more serious felony offense, Anspaugh could still serve jail time as the maximum penalty for a misdemeanor moving violation causing death is one year in jail.